WTF is this businessspeak supposed to mean? The A340s have been recently refurbished. It is the third part of our review series looking at the SWISS Business Class experience. Voting Is Now Open for the 2021 FlyerTalk Awards! The A340 will also be deployed on Swisss new Zurich-Osaka (Japan) route, on which service will commence on March 1. Ihr Browser verhlt sich ungewhnlich und hnelt somit einem Bot. Currently, the A330s have 28 and A350s 21 Premium Economy seats. After the main course, there was a trolley pushed about the cabin with cheese and port. Reply Aug 25, 19, 2:39 pm # 324 behuman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes My main was the beef tenderloin and though it looked less overdone than most airplane beef I've had, it was on the chewy side. During the ongoing airport refurbishment, it seems that most long-haul flights depart from these types of gates. We pushed back on time at 11:40am and were airborne 20 minutes later. Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. To get us from A to B Swiss needs planes. . Has anyone even used the wifi on the A330/777? The five Airbus A340 aircraft have been fitted with new cabins in First, Business and Economy Class. But it will also be more focused, more digital, more efficient and more sustainable. With 10 years having passed since the jets exited the fleet, where did they go? Swiss International Air Lines - A340 refurbishment - The A330 cabin will also be reaching 10 years in some of the planes in 2019 and since the A330 will remain in the fleet by at least 2025 approx it would be nice to see SWISS refurbish the cabins in those planes as well given that they also begin showing their age The Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group with a total of more than 300 subsidiaries and equity investments. This meant I could only choose from a handful of the window seats on the right hand side. The crew were very professional throughout the entire flight in a way that some US carriers' crew aren't. Corporate responsibility, that is to say sustainable and responsible entrepreneurial practice, is an integral part of our corporate strategy. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Swiss operates its Airbus A340s on services between Zurich and Boston, Johannesburg and Shanghai. SWISS now flying with a fully-refurbished Airbus A340 fleet SWISS concluded its cabin refurbishment program for its Airbus A340 aircraft fleet. It's wider, taller, quieter, more fuel efficient and more advanced. Whilst it worked fine, it isnt exactly cheap and with 220MB being the upper limit you wont get much use out of it. Only if they plan on keeping the A330 longer than that would it make sense. The "single" window seats on the right hand side are typically reserved for HON Circle and Senator Miles & More members. Each of the seats measures 17.1 inches wide and offers 31 inches of pitch. Beautiful shots taken while the sun is below the horizon, Accidents Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels, LOT and Other Partners | Miles & More, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, https://www.swiss.com/corporate/en/m-20161007.html, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28525359-post588.html. Since they are keeping A340s anyway, a big chunk of the economics of scale for selling A340s is gone anyway. Im afraid I totally disagree re the throne/Kirk seats being the best the foot cubby is incredibly cramped and I found it difficult to sleep as you were unable to just turn over on your side Id recommend one of the side seats instead which isnt so restricted. I really couldn't fault them for anything. <> The airline's A330s have an average age of just over 15 years. One was set up for First Class and Business Class passengers whilst the other two were for economy passengers. Swiss International Air Lines dankt Ihnen fr Ihr Verstndnis. It's clear that Swiss doesn't go all out to "wow" its customers with blinged-out cabins, but it succeeds in providing a very good business-class experience. Airliners.net is the leading community for discovering and sharing high-quality aviation photography. Compared to all the other transatlantic products, the A330 is fine still. What nonsense! Newer cabins on older aircraft: Swiss completes A340 refurbishment program, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Detailed review: Roger. [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="22" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" dine-on-demand="No" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. Last but not least the resale value proposition is a lot better for the A330 compared to the ultra cheap A340-300s. If you book through United, you'll spend 70,000 miles for a one-way business-class flight plus minimal taxes and fees for a flight between the US and Europe, while if you go the Aeroplan route, you can expect to pay 55,000 miles, but you'll have to shell out more in cash (usually between $250 and $300) for a similar flight. It had all the usual items including an eye mask, toothpaste and toothbrush). We thank you for your support and hope you'll join the largest aviation community on the web. Pre-pandemic commercially important destinations included PVG, HKG and SIN. Therefore I strongly believe in the retirement of 5 SWISS A330-300. Seat Maps; Airlines; Cheap Flights; Comparison Charts . [flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="8" tpg-rating-max="15" live-tv="No" tailcam="No" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]. Swiss has "buy on board" concept for its short-haul flights, but business-class passengers could chose anything to eat and drink from that menu for free. The hard product is admittedly tired on the A330s the seats are showing their age and the IFE screens are tiny. This wouldnt necessarily be a problem but the airline staff went about it in a completely chaotic way, setting up three temporary trolleys to process passengers. Therefore I strongly believe in the retirement of 5 SWISS A330-300. This cookie is associated with Akamai. And, we were held for a while on the bus before we were allowed to board. SWISS has announced plans to reduce its fleet (as well as the fleet of its regional partner Helvetic Airways) by roughly 15% compared to its 2019 fleet size. As mentioned, I had reserved one of the coveted "throne seats" in the smaller, forward business cabin for GBP 115 ($150). Every seat in the middle section has aisle access and they're in a staggered arrangement. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. The question whether they retire A330 or A340 is related to Asian destinations. As far as I know, a schedule has not been set. Swiss International Air Lines - A340 refurbishment - Originally Posted by NA-Flyer Does the F seat on the A340 match the one on the 777 in terms of size, legroom, IFE? Based on the announcement by Swiss, I expect they are launching the world's first teleportation device to "digitally" transport us from one point to another. Assigns your browser to a session on the server. Personal reading lamps Headrests have four adjustable settings. There are only two rows in that forward cabin, which is right behind First Class, and I was in 4A, in the first row of the tiny section. To be able to offer the product, the airline plans to refurbish some of its A330s and A350s and install additional Premium Economy class seats. Hopefully by then they'll be in better financial shape, too. The sooner we can get rid of these ridiculous checks the better, for everyone involved. % As mentioned previously I was given a menu after boarding. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Next to the 777, the A340 has proven to be a workhorse during the crisis. There were also red socks at each seat. Overall, both the food, presentation and general service was of good quality and nicely done. Reviews. After coming off from my last flight, I had just five hours or so until my next flight, which would take me from Montreal to Zurich. (Photo by Victoria Walker/The Points Guy) My seat, 27K, was in the forward economy cabin, with four lavatories separating this cabin from the larger rear one. With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment program, we are further underlining our quality commitment, and now offer all our customers the same premium air travel experience, including inflight internet connectivity on all our long-haul flights, said SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. The quantity of food is the same on the longer routes, save for a small pre-arrival meal. This website uses cookies. Same seating as in the A330, and a new IFE. Maximise your frequent flyer miles and hotel points by signing up to our emails. N>K\G.ps%=.mQD%VCWJ0X%cCc^rj&5::Vgm When I passed through the airport, Swiss' business-class lounge was closed for refurbishment kind of. Swiss A330 Refurbishment Discussions about factual events happening in the airline and general aviation industries. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Thanks to the latest generation of seats, the modernised version of the aircraft offers maximum comfort in all flight classes. Short of sending two busses, I guess there's not a lot Swiss could have done to improve the experience, given the renovation project at the airport. And, of course, the lines were quite long. 3 0 obj Booked mid Dec on LX to JNB in F and it looks to me that it's still the unrefurbished A340-300. Duck was served from the cart for those wanting it meaning the same meal also worked as the vegetarian option. The amenity kit was of good quality and can be re-used for a number of purposes (there was actually a leaflet explaining various re-purpose options). The A330 doesnt make it with full payload and the 77W is way too big for pax demand. So far I have been fairly impressed with SWISS. However travelling in First to Boston they lost my luggage and werent exactly stellar in their handling of this. From my throne seat in business, I had a perfect view of the small first-class cabin until the curtain was drawn. There is only one option for dessert, the cheesecake with chocolate sponge, but you can also have a little selection of cheese: In total, the meal service took 2-3 hours from take-off before all was said and done. Excited to try Swiss business class for the first time, I booked one of the sought-after "throne seats" on the Airbus A330. It was being used as the First Class, Senator and Hon Circle lounge while that space was actually being refurbished. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. cons="Lackluster ground experience and outrageously expensive Wi-Fi." You also get a personal reading light, in addition to the overhead lights, as well as an international plug socket (there is also a USB socket under the IFE screen), plus your seat controls: Finally, tucked away in the armrest, is a little remote control: Ready and waiting at my seat was a Victorinox amenity kit, a pillow and a blanket, unnecessarily wrapped in plastic. I made my own bed SWISS dont offer a bed making service as far as I can tell and there is no mattress pad or sheet like you find on other airlines, so you make do with your (fairly mediocre) pillow and blanket: At some point a bistro menu was handed out for the optional second on-demand meal service. pricing and limited MB I only use the vouchers anyway (they are happy to give you more once you have used up the initial one, btw). For context, currently SWISS operates just over 90 aircraft in its mainline fleet, while Helvetic Airways operates just over a dozen aircraft. Being " digital" doesn't change that basic fact. Deutsche Lufthansa AG Corporate Communications, The Americas Tal Muscal / Christina Semmel Call: +1 516-296-9474americaspr(at)dlh.de Follow us on Twitter: @lufthansaNews. To be fair, SWISS does warn you about this when you select them . You also get a set of headphones and a bottle of water in the little cubby hole under the screen: Lets take a quick look at the amenity kit. I flew Swiss recently and also found the boarding process to be chaotic, however if the gate has the electronic, self scan option then scanning your boarding pass allows you to pass, without needing to queue for the annoying document checks. We paid a total of 60,000 miles, and taxes and fees came to a total of $292, which we put on the Platinum Card in order to earn 5x points on the purchase in this case a total of 1,460 points, worth about $28 according to TPG's current valuations. Its worth noting that, if you get a SWISS A340, you will get a newly refurbished cabin. These cookies are needed for a smooth operation of our website. Menus were handed out before takeoff as well I liked both the design, size and classiness of the menu, which was in English, German, French and Italian. The cheesecake was very nice, and I enjoyed it with a green tea. no word regarding the expected date for the return of the first A340 after refurbishment? Bericht zur Gleichstellung und zur Entgeltgleichheit, Health Management and Occupational Safety, Financial strategy & value-based management, Corporate Governance Declaration, Section 289f HGB, Declaration of compliance, Section 161 AktG, Information on corporate governance practises, Board of Management and Supervisory Board procedures, Compensation of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, Law on the equal participation of women and men in executive positions, Articles of Association and Rules of Procedure, Shares held by members of the Executive Board. American Express Unveils Refreshed Centurion Lounge Experience in Seattle, Delta Air Lines Plans to Make Sky Clubs More Exclusive, Oneworld Partners American and British Airways Open JFK Terminal 8, United Airlines Opens Grab-and-Go Fly Club in Denver, United VIPs Get Escorts in Jaguar Electric SUVs, Experts Agree: Alcohol Should Stay Off Aircraft. They'll email us from point to point? Swiss First Class - Cabin The newer Boeing 777-300ER and the recently refurbished Airbus A340-300 aircraft have more privacy. According to somebody that should know, Swiss will be refurbishing the remaining 2 planes (HB-JMA and HB-JMB) starting November this year and there is a chance they will be finished by the end of the year. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Traveling for spring break? Swiss chief commercial officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour said, "With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment programme we are further underlining our quality commitment, and now offer . is the General Manager for The Points Guy UK, based in London. I think the business lounges are already full in ZRH, adding premium economy wouldn't help. I think it is okay to just add an apostrophe, but adding 's works just as well and I think with the formal name Swiss it is actually better. Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Another Year On The Executive Platinum Hamster Wheel. 1 0 obj The A330s might be coming due and if its a heavy check it might still be worth flying the A340 vs an A330 due for a very expensive maintenance check. Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources. The A330 has 8F/45C/183Y, the A340 'only' 8/47/164, so they will most certainly try to get in . The upside of a bus gate and boarding via steps is, of course, all the views of the aircraft, which allowed for some AvGeek pictures. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Additionally fuel is really cheap right now. The A330s are in storage right now. According to PlaneSpotters.net, Swiss' fleet of five A340s have an average age 16.3 years. On long-haul flights, the airline flies the Airbus A330-300 and A340-300 and the Boeing B777-300ER.The staggered, forward-facing 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 seating is a plus for many passengers, but it is wise to select the right seat for your needs in advance. You then have your console table, which is useful for boarding drinks, amenity kit etc: Inside the console is your tray table which pops out in two leaves. For this first round of completed refreshes, each aircraft was taken out of service for five to six weeks. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The A330 forms the backbone of the SWISS long haul fleet with fourteen aircraft. How do BA American Express companion vouchers work? We landed early, at 9:16am, and parked at one of the "satellite building" gates at GVA. Traveler photos (1) . Swiss chief commercial officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour said, With the completion of our Airbus A340 cabin refurbishment programme we are further underlining our quality commitment, and now offer all our customers the same premium air travel experience, including inflight internet connectivity, on all our long-haul flights.. I like airlines which have flexible table sizing as it means you dont need to have a massive table out just for a small drink or similar. I had the salmon tataki to start, which was great, both in presentation and taste. Welcome! Included as part of the refurbishment program, which started in early 2019, are new cabins and inflight entertainment systems across the first, business and economy cabins. You can opt for casual dining where your starter and main are brought out at the same time. They have a much bigger cargo capacity. The IFE screen was on the small side and felt somewhat older-generation, both in terms of operation and quality. Same seating as in the A330, and a new IFE. After take-off the crew popped around and took another round of drinks orders. How is being " more digital" a thing to promote as a positive when talking about being shrinking the airline? The new hard product is similar to what passengers can expect to find on the airline's Boeing 777 aircraft a vast improvement over the older, outdated products. All five fleet members have now been provided with a completely new cabin and inflight entertainment system. <>>> There are plenty of options for booking Swiss flights with miles some of the best are either through United MileagePlus or Air Canada's Aeroplan. Does anyone know if SWISS is still going ahead with the refurbishment of their A330s to match the A340s? It's the simple things. Swiss will be more "focused" and "more digital"? SWISS operates two aircraft on long-haul international flights, the Airbus A330 which has long been the workhorse of the SWISS fleet and a sparkling new ensemble of Boeing 777-300ERs. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. 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Cai ), Another Year on the right hand side are typically reserved for HON Circle lounge while that was... N'T change that basic fact a staggered arrangement SWISS First Class and Business Class passengers whilst the other were... To PlaneSpotters.net, SWISS does warn you about this when you select them had all usual. Staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis Booked mid Dec LX. To start, which was great, both the food, presentation and taste, while Helvetic Airways operates over... New IFE to JNB in F and it looks to me that it still! Digital '' does n't change that basic fact fine, it seems that most long-haul flights from. Parked at one of the SWISS long haul fleet with fourteen aircraft I enjoyed it with payload! Were allowed to board everyone involved that most long-haul flights depart from these types of gates as far as know!